First significant snow.....

December 9 saw a storm dump around 7-12 inches of snow here in the Western Maine mountains. I was quickly trying to get things under cover and off from the lawn so the plow guy wouldn't hit them. (my father in law plows our driveway and does a tremendous job). The bad news with the storm came colder than normal temperatures and very high winds which caused some issues like the water freezing in the barn. I had thought I had made it freeze proof, but back to the drawing board. Yesterday we borrowed a Chester White boar to breed our Tamworths as our Large Black Boar isnt quite old enough yet to do his thing. I made an inside area for the pigs to get out of the harsh climate and I know now why they call it a pig pile. I went in early one am and found 6 pigs all on top of each other huddled and staying warm. After the new year 3 Chester Whites will be heading to be processed for customers and I was trying to estimate their weight. Their is a formula you use when you get the measurements. You measure from between their ears back to the base of their tail, this is one measurement. The other is to measure their girth, which is around their body right behind their front hooves. You square the back measurement and multiply it by the girth measurement, then divide by 400. I got around 190 lbs as an estimate. General rule of thumb for good market weight is 225 lbs. So for those who ordered pigs after the new year, they are growing and are happy. I make sure I spend at least 10-15 minutes in the pasture with the pigs and scratch their ears and backs so they will become friendly and are use to people. I treat them like I do our dog (except they do not come in the house).

For any of you last minute shoppers we have jam, jelly and maple syrup gift baskets for sale on our website. We sold a few at the Farmington Farmers Market yesterday (Saturday).

Angel and I have been discussing the possibility of doing the market in the spring/summer/fall months and the equipment needed to do this (tent and table along with coolers). Doing a market is time consuming but gets your farm name out into the community. It looks like I will be doing it once a week in Farmington starting in 2010. I hope your Christmas and Holiday shopping is going well!!